PPresident Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a strong warning to leaders he accused of neglecting ordinary Ugandans despite government wealth creation programs being rolled out across the country.

Museveni’s warning came as the 12th Parliament elected a new speaker and deputy speaker on Monday, May 25th, 2026, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in a session where accountability, discipline, and service delivery were emphasized.

In his speech, the president said that he was no longer willing to tolerate leaders who ignore poverty in their communities while government funds remain unused.

“I’m in a position to be very rough with people who want a level of leadership but don’t care about the people they lead. I have been talking for a long time, and I would just sound like a preacher. I have already laid a trap for all those people through programs on the ground,” President Museveni said.

Museveni further expressed frustration that many Ugandans are still poor despite billions invested through programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).

“I’m in a very bad mood. The capital is there at each parish. Use it. Enough is enough. Every so-called leader must use the government programs to eliminate poverty and create wealth. I have put money through government programs on the ground. As I speak, in every parish there is Shs 800 million of low-cost capital,” he noted.

He, therefore, warned ministers and local leaders that they would be held personally responsible if poverty persists in their areas.

“I don’t want to hear that there is poverty in homesteads that have land and yet money is there at the parish level. If you are a minister and I come to your village and people are still suffering, I will sack you. I want to inform everybody that I have been monitoring and I don’t want to embarrass mature people. The money is there on the ground; let’s use it to get our people out of poverty,” Museveni said.

Museveni also criticized leaders who focus more on European football than the struggles of the people they represent, saying national development should come first.

“One of my people was inviting me for something called ‘Arsenal.’ I said, ‘What’s Arsenal? That I should go and celebrate. Celebrate what? I was a footballer myself; I gave up football in 1966 as I was going to liberate Uganda, and now I’m on Uganda. Okay, you can have your Arsenal, but start with the people, please. How can you be celebrating European clubs when your people don’t have anything?” the Pesident wondered.

On public health, the president urged Ugandans to remain cautious following Ebola concerns linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Please set an example. There is a big problem in Congo. Let’s stop this business of shaking hands and so on. Ebola spreads through physical contact. I was here watching you shaking hands and hugging. Do you people know that there is Ebola? For me, I’ve not touched any of you,” he said.

The sitting also marked a major political transition in Parliament as Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth won the race for speaker after defeating opposition-backed Paul Mwiru and DP President Norbert Mao. Oboth-Oboth secured 441 votes, while Mwiru received 60 and Mao 15.

In his acceptance speech, the new speaker promised a parliament that will focus on accountability and integrity.

Thomas Tayebwa, who was elected for the second term as a deputy speaker pledged to lead a corruption-free Parliament after garnering 457 votes, defeating Asinansi Nyakato and Sarah Aguti. Tayebwa called on legislators to unite around wealth creation and socio-economic transformation.

While closing the session, President Museveni congratulated the new leadership and praised the transparent conduct of the elections, while urging MPs across political divides to focus on national development and improving livelihoods.